The Rolex 24 At Daytona will serve as the kick-off event for the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season and Daytona International Speedway’s Budweiser Speedweeks 2014, on Jan. 25-26.

But three weeks beforehand, it will be time to make some pre

Daytona Prototypes are expected to flock to the Roar Before The Rolex 24 test session.(Photo: Grand-Am)

The Rolex 24 At Daytona will serve as the kick-off event for the inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season and Daytona International Speedway’s Budweiser Speedweeks 2014, on Jan. 25-26.

But three weeks beforehand, it will be time to make some preseason noise.

The annual “Roar Before The Rolex 24” test sessions will be held at DIS on Jan. 3-5, open to teams in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, both sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

This won’t be any ordinary test, though. The belief is that it will be rather extraordinary, starting with the expected total turnout of more than 100 cars.

“We think this is going to be the ‘loudest’ Roar ever, meaning, it will be the most significant in the history of the test,” said IMSA Vice President of Competition and Technical Regulations Scot Elkins.

“The season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona will be just a few weeks away, and anticipation for the first race in the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will be at a fever pitch. The Roar will provide fans a chance to see the new championship’s class structure showcased together on-track. In addition, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will roll onto the high banks with its typical huge contingent of production-based cars.

“While the Roar officially will be a test session, fans who attend will experience a preview of what will be the race-weekend atmosphere. Of course the primary goal of the Roar is to provide teams an opportunity to test in advance of the race, but this year’s Roar is also designed to get everyone pumped about the Rolex 24 and the entire debut season for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.”

Added Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III: “There will certainly be a special buzz surrounding this year’s Roar Before The Rolex 24, as we begin this new era in North American sports car racing. Fans will be treated to something special, watching TUDOR United SportsCar Championship teams prepare for their prestigious season-opening event – the Rolex 24 At Daytona.”

Individual daily tickets to the Roar Before The Rolex 24 are available for $15 online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP; children 12 and under will receive free admission. In addition, ticket holders for the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona receive free admission to the Roar Before The Rolex 24.

season noise.

The annual “Roar Before The Rolex 24” test sessions will be held at DIS on Jan. 3-5, open to teams in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, both sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

This won’t be any ordinary test, though. The belief is that it will be rather extraordinary, starting with the expected total turnout of more than 100 cars.

“We think this is going to be the ‘loudest’ Roar ever, meaning, it will be the most significant in the history of the test,” said IMSA Vice President of Competition and Technical Regulations Scot Elkins.

“The season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona will be just a few weeks away, and anticipation for the first race in the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will be at a fever pitch. The Roar will provide fans a chance to see the new championship’s class structure showcased together on-track. In addition, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will roll onto the high banks with its typical huge contingent of production-based cars.

“While the Roar officially will be a test session, fans who attend will experience a preview of what will be the race-weekend atmosphere. Of course the primary goal of the Roar is to provide teams an opportunity to test in advance of the race, but this year’s Roar is also designed to get everyone pumped about the Rolex 24 and the entire debut season for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.”

Added Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III: “There will certainly be a special buzz surrounding this year’s Roar Before The Rolex 24, as we begin this new era in North American sports car racing. Fans will be treated to something special, watching TUDOR United SportsCar Championship teams prepare for their prestigious season-opening event – the Rolex 24 At Daytona.”

Individual daily tickets to the Roar Before The Rolex 24 are available for $15 online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP; children 12 and under will receive free admission. In addition, ticket holders for the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona receive free admission to the Roar Before The Rolex 24.